Ronald guidry most strikeouts in a game

In 11 games, he posted a record with a 1. Guidry was recalled to take his place on May But I had just pitched a few nights in a row in the minor leagues, and Coxy had sent a report saying I should have a couple of days off.

Of course, Billy ignored that and threw me into a game right off the bus. He was sending me out to slaughter. I recorded one out and gave up four runs against Boston. Maybe because I was a rookie and he wanted a more experienced guy.

For 47 consecutive games, Guidry sat in the Yankee bullpen and was not called into action by Martin. On July 6, he was demoted once again to Syracuse. After talking it over with Bonnie, Guidry returned to the Chiefs. He pitched very well, but again it was for a short period of time.

He returned to the Bronx in early August and appeared in just six games. The Yankees won the American League East, and after a year hiatus, were once again in the postseason. He did not get an opportunity to pitch. Instead, he was used as a pinch-runner in Game Four. Guidry did not appear on the mound in the Fall Classic.

The Yankee front office felt that one area of the team that needed an upgrade was shortstop. They set their sights on Bucky Dent of the White Sox. Dent was not the only new addition to the Yankees in Reggie Jackson and Don Gullett also signed on as free agents in the offseason.

He joined the regular rotation in mid-May and broke out as a star. In 25 starts and six relief appearances, he posted a record with a 2. He threw a two-hitter against Texas on August Of course, Martin told the media that it was his plan all along to slowly bring Guidry along.

New York scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to win the game, The Yankees toppled L. In his only start, Guidry went the distance in the Yankees win, striking out seven and walking three. His sterling performance brought platitudes spilling out from Martin.

Guidry was notorious for not pitching well in spring training, as Martin alluded in his comment. But it became accepted that the ship would be righted as soon as the bell rang for the regular season. In , Guidry had a monster year. The game that exemplified his dominance took place on June 17 against California. Guidry whiffed 18 Angel batters on the way to a New York victory.

Guidry came within one of tying the major league record at that time for strikeouts in a game: 19, shared by Steve Carlton , Tom Seaver , and Nolan Ryan. The Yankees were in a tight race in the AL East all season long.

He was replaced by Bob Lemon. The Yankees stormed back into the race with a record in August and September and led Boston by a game going into the final day of the season. But Boston beat Toronto and the Yankees lost to Cleveland to force a playoff game the following day.

The Yankees traveled to Fenway Park on October 2. Guidry set team records in for the lowest ERA by a left-handed pitcher 1. He threw eight innings in Game Four and struck out seven as he pitched the Yankees into the World Series, defeating the Royals by a score of Guidry started Game Three and again he was victorious, as the Yankees won He heaped praise on Lyle for teaching him how to throw a slider. He was willing to take the time and effort to turn both seasons around.

Tragedy struck the team on August 2, when Thurman Munson was killed while piloting his Cessna jet. The unquestioned leader of the club was now suddenly gone.

As a catcher, he had the unique ability of knowing what it took for each pitcher to get through the inning or the game. Despite the loss of his batterymate, Guidry posted an record. He led the AL with a 2. More than his stats, Guidry showed his own leadership abilities when he volunteered to go to the bullpen after Goose Gossage suffered a thumb injury. He made three appearances as a reliever.

The hiring and firing of Billy became a tiresome recurrence. Dick Howser was named the new manager for the season. Although he was no Munson, he was a capable receiver who brought the necessary mindset to his position. Through August 18, Guidry posted a record with a 3. He had lost three straight losses when he went back to the bullpen.

Guidry wanted to work on some things because he felt that he was not as dominating as had been in the past. For the season, he was with a 3. The crowd was getting into it. As the game wore on, the more consistent and louder the clapping became. Sportswriters and broadcasters were scrambling for their media guides to see what the record was for the most strikeouts in game by a Yankees pitcher.

Guidry tied Shawkey when he struck out Brian Downing in the seventh inning. He surpassed Shawkey by striking out Hampton in the eighth, and added two more for a total of 18 strikeouts.

Ryan was in the Angels dugout watching the exhibition put on by Guidry. I was just concentrating on the next batter. When I went out to mound in the eighth, they put up on the scoreboard that I had the most strikeouts in the majors this season at that point. I thought I had eight or nine. Guidry praised the Yankee fans among the 33, who were in attendance. I thought I made a mistake.

Martin resigned six days later and was replaced by Bob Lemon , who had been let go earlier in the season as manager of the Chicago White Sox.

Whether or not it was the change in leadership that made the difference, the Yankees and Red Sox staged an amazing fight to claim the division. The season ended with both teams tied, and the Yankees won in a one-game tiebreaker.

He also led the league in shutouts with nine. Guidry was in the postseason. That moniker was Louisiana Lightning, which was displayed by a fan in the stands at Yankee Stadium, and repeated over the airwaves by Yankees broadcaster Phil Rizzuto. He pitched to a microscopic 1. Gator got off to a bit of a rough start. He gave up a a scorching double down the left-field line to Bobby Grich.

Guidry then notched his first strikeout in unusual fashion when light-hitting outfielder Rick Miller was punched out on a foul tip following a failed bunt attempt. Grich moved to third on a groundout, but Guidry got out of the jam when he struck out Joe Rudi looking. Not yet locked in, Guidry walked Don Baylor on five pitches to start the second. He retired Ron Jackson on a shallow fly ball to center field, but Baylor stole second to move into scoring position.

Gator left him stranded when he got Merv Rettenmund on another shallow fly ball and struck out Brian Downing. It required 38 pitches to get through the first two innings, but the dominance began to emerge in the third. Guidry struck out the side, while working around a pair of two-out singles.

Guidry was in a groove, and the Angels hitters were pressing. Once again, he stranded a runner in scoring position. It marked the last time California advanced a runner that far. In fact, only two Angels reached base for the remainder of the game. Yankees color commentator Bill White remarked during the game that the Yankees held a contest to come up with a cool nickname for Guidry.

Fans at Yankee Stadium had been doing it prior to this game. Indeed, they loudly cheered Guidry beginning in the first inning — well before there was a strikeout record in sight. Perhaps this was the day that the practice entered into the national conversation.

Louisiana Lightning struck out the side on 13 pitches in the fourth, and worked around a leadoff walk to punch out two more in the fifth. The Yankees had scored a run in the first and plated three more in the third, and with the way Guidry was pitching, the lead seemed insurmountable. By this point in the game, the crowd of 33, plus was rooting for the Yankees to make quick outs so they could go back to watching Guidry pitch.